In a recent appearance on CNN Prima News’ Partie discussion program, Tomio Okamura, the chair of the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party, indicated that the ANO movement could be a conceivable partner for his party following the upcoming Czech parliamentary elections. When asked about potential coalition partners, Okamura expressed his view on the matter.

Okamura also acknowledged that the ANO movement, led by former Prime Minister Andrej Babis, is in the process of internal negotiations regarding potential cooperation with the ruling Civic Democratic Party (ODS). The regular schedule for the parliamentary elections is set for the autumn of 2025.

Okamura stated, “The closest possible partner will be the parties that will eventually get into the lower house and have nothing to do with Fiala’s ruling five-coalition.” He continued by mentioning that, theoretically, the ANO movement could be the closest partner for his party, mainly due to the absence of other viable opposition parties.

He emphasized the significance of achieving a strong electoral result that would position the SPD as a decisive factor in post-election discussions. Okamura cited the previous term, during which the party came close to achieving this goal. He added, “The hares are counted after the hunt,” underscoring the pragmatism needed for electoral aspirations.

Regarding ANO’s potential collaboration with ODS, Okamura expressed curiosity about the ongoing internal discussions. However, he speculated that ANO’s alignment with ODS might not sit well with ANO’s voter base. He commented, “If ANO wants to go with ODS, I don’t think their voters would welcome that,” albeit without delving into specifics.

A different perspective on potential partnerships emerged from Milos Vystrcil, a senior member of ODS, who, in an interview with the daily Pravo, rejected the idea of cooperation with ANO at the government level. Vystrcil advocated for the Civic Democrats to maintain distance from the opposition ANO movement.

As Czech politics undergoes these discussions and maneuverings in the lead-up to the 2025 parliamentary elections, the intricate dynamics between various parties will undoubtedly shape the course of the nation’s political landscape.

Article by Prague Forum